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Red Rain #1
Red Rain
Please don't send me back to Earth.
Stripped of her rights for refusing to assimilate into a global megacountry, 16-year-old Philadelphia Symrna has watched her family be torn apart by the oppressive United government. The final blow comes when her father is forced to go to Mars on scientific business, leaving her behind to be adopted by hostile strangers.
When a benevolent Martian official allows her to accompany her father, Philadelphia knows she must keep her head down or be sent back to Earth. But staying discreet becomes impossible when she discovers they're stationed at the same base where her deceased brother worked, and no one will give her a straight answer about his death. Stumbling into a hallway that isn't supposed to exist, Philadelphia is faced with a question she doesn’t want to answer: the choice between returning to Earth—or destroying it.
Red Rain is the first novella in this fast-paced Christian sci-fi series for teens and adults.
Stripped of her rights for refusing to assimilate into a global megacountry, 16-year-old Philadelphia Symrna has watched her family be torn apart by the oppressive United government. The final blow comes when her father is forced to go to Mars on scientific business, leaving her behind to be adopted by hostile strangers.
When a benevolent Martian official allows her to accompany her father, Philadelphia knows she must keep her head down or be sent back to Earth. But staying discreet becomes impossible when she discovers they're stationed at the same base where her deceased brother worked, and no one will give her a straight answer about his death. Stumbling into a hallway that isn't supposed to exist, Philadelphia is faced with a question she doesn’t want to answer: the choice between returning to Earth—or destroying it.
Red Rain is the first novella in this fast-paced Christian sci-fi series for teens and adults.
ebook
First published September 6, 2011
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397 people want to read
About the author
Aubrey Hansen
10 books83 followersAubrey Hansen is the retired penname of Rachel Newhouse.
‘Sup! Thanks for reading my books. My name is Rachel Newhouse (previously published under the penname Aubrey Hansen), and I’m an author, editor, housecleaner, and secretary from Kansas City, Missouri. I love sci-fi, dystopia, and kid lit. In addition to the Red Rain series, my first easy reader, Mack Moves House, is now available. I also help other indie authors succeed through my editing and book design business, elfinpen designs. When I’m not writing, I spend most of my time hanging out with my Sunday school class, growing peppers that are too spicy to eat, cooking Asian food, or watching age-inappropriate shows like My Little Pony and Gravity Falls with my husband, Joe.
‘Sup! Thanks for reading my books. My name is Rachel Newhouse (previously published under the penname Aubrey Hansen), and I’m an author, editor, housecleaner, and secretary from Kansas City, Missouri. I love sci-fi, dystopia, and kid lit. In addition to the Red Rain series, my first easy reader, Mack Moves House, is now available. I also help other indie authors succeed through my editing and book design business, elfinpen designs. When I’m not writing, I spend most of my time hanging out with my Sunday school class, growing peppers that are too spicy to eat, cooking Asian food, or watching age-inappropriate shows like My Little Pony and Gravity Falls with my husband, Joe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 19, 2017
Second Review:
This book was just as amazing the second time as it was the first!
One thing in particular that I didn't pick up until after I read it the first time, and still not fully until I read it the second time: the connect between the characters in this book and the 7 churches portrayed in the first few chapters of Revelations. WOW! Absolutely brilliant, Aubrey! Seriously, I am still mind-blown whenever I think about it.
I have always had a fascination with the book of Revelations, and for Ms. Hansen to portray it in this way was both excellent and skillful.
All in all, go get yourself a copy of this book! You won't regret it! I cannot wait until the second book comes out!
First Review:
Ya'll. This book was amazing!!! It was just so wonderful, and amazing, and beautiful, and wonderful, and amaz - oh wait. Am I repeating myself?
Aubrey Hansen has a way with words like none other. The wordings, word pictures, and expression was so wonderfully done. Just beautiful!
The story was AH-mazing. It was my first taste of the dystopian genre, and I loved it! I am always a sap for daddy\daughter stories, and this one is definitely one of my favorites! It left me wanting to go curl up on my own daddy's lap. I just loved it. The relationship between the father and daughter and between the sister and brother was just so sweet and relatable. The plot was very plausible and realistic. The end climax scene was entirely believable and coherent. Oftentimes, in the end climax scene, you get the impression that the hero\heroine suddenly has super powers. Not so in this book. It was so realistic and made perfect sense.
My one issue with this book was that not a lot of world-building was done, and therefore was somewhat confusing in this first couple of chapters. Other than that, this book was phenomenal! I look forward to reading more by this talented author!
This book was just as amazing the second time as it was the first!
One thing in particular that I didn't pick up until after I read it the first time, and still not fully until I read it the second time: the connect between the characters in this book and the 7 churches portrayed in the first few chapters of Revelations. WOW! Absolutely brilliant, Aubrey! Seriously, I am still mind-blown whenever I think about it.
I have always had a fascination with the book of Revelations, and for Ms. Hansen to portray it in this way was both excellent and skillful.
All in all, go get yourself a copy of this book! You won't regret it! I cannot wait until the second book comes out!
First Review:
Ya'll. This book was amazing!!! It was just so wonderful, and amazing, and beautiful, and wonderful, and amaz - oh wait. Am I repeating myself?
Aubrey Hansen has a way with words like none other. The wordings, word pictures, and expression was so wonderfully done. Just beautiful!
The story was AH-mazing. It was my first taste of the dystopian genre, and I loved it! I am always a sap for daddy\daughter stories, and this one is definitely one of my favorites! It left me wanting to go curl up on my own daddy's lap. I just loved it. The relationship between the father and daughter and between the sister and brother was just so sweet and relatable. The plot was very plausible and realistic. The end climax scene was entirely believable and coherent. Oftentimes, in the end climax scene, you get the impression that the hero\heroine suddenly has super powers. Not so in this book. It was so realistic and made perfect sense.
My one issue with this book was that not a lot of world-building was done, and therefore was somewhat confusing in this first couple of chapters. Other than that, this book was phenomenal! I look forward to reading more by this talented author!
August 29, 2017
Listened to the free audiobook found on the author's website.
I was not expecting to finish this in one day! I also wasn't expecting to like it quite so much. Long story short, I'm not generally a dystopian fan and it was mainly the facts that the audio was free, it was short, and there were some rave reviews from my GR friends, that got me to even think about reading (listening) to it.
Well, I had a lot of car-riding to do today, one chapter led to another, and I finished it! It actually took until chapter 3, I believe, when our main character left Earth and went to Mars to hook me, but once it did, I was content to just sit and listen until it was done. While I am still not a converted dystopian fan, I did very much enjoy this story, the characters, and the overall writing style. There were things that really surprised me and had me itching to know what would come next. But I think my favorite thing about the whole story were the warm, strong, relationship the main character had with her family, particularly her father. That's something I love to see in books and would like to see far more often, especially since YA fiction so frequently has the parents being uninvolved, uncaring, incompetent, or dead.
Conclusion: I really liked it. Not enough to make me run and grab another dystopian book, but it surprised me with how much it grabbed me, and I think that shows how talented this author is.
Content advisory: None that I recall. But I'll echo another reviewer that this would probably be better for older readers (12+) given the esoteric content that would go over younger children's heads.
Main Worldviews: Christian.
I was not expecting to finish this in one day! I also wasn't expecting to like it quite so much. Long story short, I'm not generally a dystopian fan and it was mainly the facts that the audio was free, it was short, and there were some rave reviews from my GR friends, that got me to even think about reading (listening) to it.
Well, I had a lot of car-riding to do today, one chapter led to another, and I finished it! It actually took until chapter 3, I believe, when our main character left Earth and went to Mars to hook me, but once it did, I was content to just sit and listen until it was done. While I am still not a converted dystopian fan, I did very much enjoy this story, the characters, and the overall writing style. There were things that really surprised me and had me itching to know what would come next. But I think my favorite thing about the whole story were the warm, strong, relationship the main character had with her family, particularly her father. That's something I love to see in books and would like to see far more often, especially since YA fiction so frequently has the parents being uninvolved, uncaring, incompetent, or dead.
Conclusion: I really liked it. Not enough to make me run and grab another dystopian book, but it surprised me with how much it grabbed me, and I think that shows how talented this author is.
Content advisory: None that I recall. But I'll echo another reviewer that this would probably be better for older readers (12+) given the esoteric content that would go over younger children's heads.
Main Worldviews: Christian.
July 9, 2016
A tightly-written Christian dystopia; tells its story and ends when it should. You could read it in one two-hour shot and feel satisfied.
What I liked:
- Most dystopias seem to have a common theme: Resist! The plot centers around overthrowing the administration, and in the end the dystopia gets disdystopified. (Which word I just made up. Do you like it?) Red Rain is different, and I'm not going to tell you how. Read the book.
- Access to Scripture gets cut off as part of the story, and this was thought-provoking. It actually made me want to go read the Bible, which is always a good thing!
- Red Rain is overall a well-written, engaging story that kept me reading.
What I didn't like:
- Apart from the obvious connection with the main character and the Bible verse at the end, I never did figure out exactly why a bunch of people are named after the churches of Revelation.
- One annoying plausibility issue with the plot:
- A major plot point could be seen coming afar off.
I recommend Red Rain to all lovers of clean, inspiring Christian fiction.
What I liked:
- Most dystopias seem to have a common theme: Resist! The plot centers around overthrowing the administration, and in the end the dystopia gets disdystopified. (Which word I just made up. Do you like it?) Red Rain is different, and I'm not going to tell you how. Read the book.
- Access to Scripture gets cut off as part of the story, and this was thought-provoking. It actually made me want to go read the Bible, which is always a good thing!
- Red Rain is overall a well-written, engaging story that kept me reading.
What I didn't like:
- Apart from the obvious connection with the main character and the Bible verse at the end, I never did figure out exactly why a bunch of people are named after the churches of Revelation.
- One annoying plausibility issue with the plot:
- A major plot point could be seen coming afar off.
I recommend Red Rain to all lovers of clean, inspiring Christian fiction.
April 4, 2019
Okay--wow. Amazing. Blown away. So good!
I remembered from reading reviews that there were connections with the churches in Revelation, and I debated whether to go back and read the biblical passage before I read this. Actually, I'm glad I didn't, as it seriously added to the suspense, not being able to remember the specific warnings/commendations for each church. But it was an amazing touch! Also, I caught onto the one character with a Revelation name not tied to a church immediately. :)
The struggle of Christians to hold onto their faith in this repressive society was almost palpable, and I could feel the loneliness, the hurt, the temptations as though I was living it myself. My heart was in my shoes so many times as I rooted for Philadelphia and her father (and others) to hold fast and not give up. I loved the setting on the Mars base with its stark, sci-fi feel and mazes of corridors (which definitely made me think of some real places I know!). And the characters with all their different personalities and struggles and challenges felt so real! I loved Phil's relationship with her dad and the closeness they shared.
The building tension and mystery was really well done . I also loved the way God was given credit for orchestrating what would have been coincidences or fortunate accidents in a lot of books. :)
5 stars, and I don't doubt that I'll be revisiting this one frequently.
Content--mentions of persecution of Christians and other religions; threats and weapons pointed; dangerous situations; mentions of cursing (no words)
I remembered from reading reviews that there were connections with the churches in Revelation, and I debated whether to go back and read the biblical passage before I read this. Actually, I'm glad I didn't, as it seriously added to the suspense, not being able to remember the specific warnings/commendations for each church. But it was an amazing touch! Also, I caught onto the one character with a Revelation name not tied to a church immediately. :)
The struggle of Christians to hold onto their faith in this repressive society was almost palpable, and I could feel the loneliness, the hurt, the temptations as though I was living it myself. My heart was in my shoes so many times as I rooted for Philadelphia and her father (and others) to hold fast and not give up. I loved the setting on the Mars base with its stark, sci-fi feel and mazes of corridors (which definitely made me think of some real places I know!). And the characters with all their different personalities and struggles and challenges felt so real! I loved Phil's relationship with her dad and the closeness they shared.
The building tension and mystery was really well done . I also loved the way God was given credit for orchestrating what would have been coincidences or fortunate accidents in a lot of books. :)
5 stars, and I don't doubt that I'll be revisiting this one frequently.
Content--mentions of persecution of Christians and other religions; threats and weapons pointed; dangerous situations; mentions of cursing (no words)
January 30, 2023
*2023 reread*
Still love this book as much as the first time. I couldn't get my kindle to update the newest version of the book, but I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
*2012 review*
Recommend for: All ages, mild sci-fi lovers, those looking for a short read, those wanting to support homeschool authors.
Oh, and my husband was reading over my shoulder most of the time. He loves this story too.
Can I be honest? I don’t read a lot of Sci-Fi because I don’t like most of it that is out there. I know, this is hard to believe coming from a science fiction writer, but it’s true. Red Rain was a resounding exception.
One day, while working on Homeschool Authors, I found out about Aubrey Hanson. When I stumbled on her website, I saw that there was a free audio book. One day while I was busy mindlessly entering data into the computer at work, I put on my head phones and started listening to the book. I was hooked from the first few sentences. In fact, I stayed up late when I got home (even though I had to get up early the next morning) to finish the book.
A week or so later I bought the Kindle book and thrust the Kindle at my twelve-year-old sister, telling her she would love this book (my twelve-year-old sister is one of the few people in the family that will sit and watch corny old sci-fi movies with me). She brought the Kindle back to me the next day declaring that the book had been too short. “It was such a good book! Why didn’t you make it longer?”
What I loved about it:
First off; Grace Pennington, the girl who read the book, has an amazing voice. If I ever had an audio book done of my books, she would be the one I would choose to do it.
The suspense was excellent and made me frustrated when the downloader didn’t buffer fast enough to keep up. I loved the faith displayed in this book. Without giving anything away, in the end they make a decision that goes against what many Christians would have chosen. It is the hard, much less traveled road of doing what is right, even if sets you back personally. I applaud Aubrey for the courage she showed in her writing.
One of the best things about this book is you felt you were in a real place. You could see the place where Philadelphia lived. You good feel the cold, hard walls of the star base. It all seemed so real, so believable.
What I didn’t like:
Does too-short and wish-there-was-more count?
I encourage you to listen to it for yourself and then, if you like it, show your support and buy the book.
Still love this book as much as the first time. I couldn't get my kindle to update the newest version of the book, but I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
*2012 review*
Recommend for: All ages, mild sci-fi lovers, those looking for a short read, those wanting to support homeschool authors.
Oh, and my husband was reading over my shoulder most of the time. He loves this story too.
Can I be honest? I don’t read a lot of Sci-Fi because I don’t like most of it that is out there. I know, this is hard to believe coming from a science fiction writer, but it’s true. Red Rain was a resounding exception.
One day, while working on Homeschool Authors, I found out about Aubrey Hanson. When I stumbled on her website, I saw that there was a free audio book. One day while I was busy mindlessly entering data into the computer at work, I put on my head phones and started listening to the book. I was hooked from the first few sentences. In fact, I stayed up late when I got home (even though I had to get up early the next morning) to finish the book.
A week or so later I bought the Kindle book and thrust the Kindle at my twelve-year-old sister, telling her she would love this book (my twelve-year-old sister is one of the few people in the family that will sit and watch corny old sci-fi movies with me). She brought the Kindle back to me the next day declaring that the book had been too short. “It was such a good book! Why didn’t you make it longer?”
What I loved about it:
First off; Grace Pennington, the girl who read the book, has an amazing voice. If I ever had an audio book done of my books, she would be the one I would choose to do it.
The suspense was excellent and made me frustrated when the downloader didn’t buffer fast enough to keep up. I loved the faith displayed in this book. Without giving anything away, in the end they make a decision that goes against what many Christians would have chosen. It is the hard, much less traveled road of doing what is right, even if sets you back personally. I applaud Aubrey for the courage she showed in her writing.
One of the best things about this book is you felt you were in a real place. You could see the place where Philadelphia lived. You good feel the cold, hard walls of the star base. It all seemed so real, so believable.
What I didn’t like:
Does too-short and wish-there-was-more count?
I encourage you to listen to it for yourself and then, if you like it, show your support and buy the book.
July 2, 2017
Excellent Christian foundation and themes, good POV from the main character, excellent conflict. I appreciated that the plot was complex - not just "good guys fight the bad guys." The ending was unique and refreshing. I never read dystopia or sci-fi, but I'm happy to recommend this book as the almost sole exception to that. Christian sci-fi and dystopian authors, take note. :)
July 27, 2016
Wow! This was really good. I've never been a big fan of space books, but this one caught me by surprise! The characters were really intriguing and nicely developed, and the setting was really interesting. The best part of this book was the plot. Very intriguing, and it kept me guessing the whole time. Not to mention the way everything worked out was sooo good. I'm now eagerly awaiting the sequel!
Oh, and the author has a really great author website, too! You should check it out here: http://jointheunaccepted.com/.
Oh, and the author has a really great author website, too! You should check it out here: http://jointheunaccepted.com/.
May 9, 2022
Re-read 2019.
This book was so awesome. This was the first Indie book I have ever read and it's still one of my favorites. Philadelphia was such a sweet main character. So different from the normal "I'm so strong I don't need anybody" character. She asks for help, cries, and wants to do what's best.
The audiobook version of this is just about perfect too. <3
This book was so awesome. This was the first Indie book I have ever read and it's still one of my favorites. Philadelphia was such a sweet main character. So different from the normal "I'm so strong I don't need anybody" character. She asks for help, cries, and wants to do what's best.
The audiobook version of this is just about perfect too. <3
January 15, 2018
"End of the Red Rain, by Aubrey Hansen!"
I enjoyed this more than I expected!!!! Although I don't usually read sci-fi, I liked this one and I thought it was super interesting! Quite exciting and adventurous!!
I listened to the audio-version since it was the only thing available for free at that moment. I prefer ebooks or paperback-versions of books, but an audio-book is fine every once in a while!!
Thanks for the recommendation, Kate!
I enjoyed this more than I expected!!!! Although I don't usually read sci-fi, I liked this one and I thought it was super interesting! Quite exciting and adventurous!!
I listened to the audio-version since it was the only thing available for free at that moment. I prefer ebooks or paperback-versions of books, but an audio-book is fine every once in a while!!
Thanks for the recommendation, Kate!
November 13, 2025
Wow! This book was way more incredible than I ever expected!! The characters jumped off the page and I can't wait to continue the series to see what happens with them. And the themes throughout this book and the message of standing up for what you believe never felt preachy, it was done beautifully!! I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick but deep (and fun!!) read. 🥰
January 19, 2025
I am currently proofing my first audiobook.
...wait, WHAT?
All right, listen. I don't usually review my own books, but CAN WE TALK ABOUT SYBIL'S NARRATION PLEASE?!
This is my first professionally produced audiobook, and I have to say, the process has been a dream. The team at Cats Meow made everything incredibly easy and hands-off, and Sybil's reading is divine. She's fabulous at reading "in between the lines" and inferring the emotion of a sentence; I swear she reads some passages better than I originally wrote them. There's so much nuance and depth to her delivery, and it was technically flawless. I couldn't ask for a better voice for Phil.
The audiobook is in the process of publishing right now and will be available on all the major retailers within 2-4 weeks. (But it may or may not be available for sale directly on my website now...) I can't waaait.
...wait, WHAT?
All right, listen. I don't usually review my own books, but CAN WE TALK ABOUT SYBIL'S NARRATION PLEASE?!
This is my first professionally produced audiobook, and I have to say, the process has been a dream. The team at Cats Meow made everything incredibly easy and hands-off, and Sybil's reading is divine. She's fabulous at reading "in between the lines" and inferring the emotion of a sentence; I swear she reads some passages better than I originally wrote them. There's so much nuance and depth to her delivery, and it was technically flawless. I couldn't ask for a better voice for Phil.
The audiobook is in the process of publishing right now and will be available on all the major retailers within 2-4 weeks. (But it may or may not be available for sale directly on my website now...) I can't waaait.
September 6, 2022
Wholesome story, Clean writing
Check out this opening line: "It had been almost six months since anyone had died because they refused to go to school." I had to keep reading after that.
As an avid Bible reader, I soon recognized some of the character names as taken from the seven churches of Revelation: Philadelphia, Smryna, Ephesus, and Sardis. It wasn't until much later that I realized the girl named Cea was named after the church of Loadicea. Why these names? My guess is that it fits the end times theme of the book. In Red Rain, Christianity is outlawed and the Bible banned. The remaining Christians, like the seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, are under persecution. (though in Red Rain, this persecution isn't all that serious--you won't find Foxes' Book of Martyrs going on in here)
On the whole, the story pace was good except for the middle where Philli wanders the hallways for awhile. As far as worldbuilding goes, I felt like there was a decent amount of detail but could have included much more. With a novella length, there certainly was room to add that to provide that depth for greater immersion.
While the Christian messages are wide open, the book doesn't feel overly preachy. At least not compared to many other Christian novels I've read.
Probably the most interesting aspect is the thing that the book is named after. Without giving out spoilers, let's just say it leaves me curious about the sequel, because there's a dangling threat seems to be staved off at the end, but my fiction senses tell me it will make a return. :)
This is a solid read and well worth your time.
Check out this opening line: "It had been almost six months since anyone had died because they refused to go to school." I had to keep reading after that.
As an avid Bible reader, I soon recognized some of the character names as taken from the seven churches of Revelation: Philadelphia, Smryna, Ephesus, and Sardis. It wasn't until much later that I realized the girl named Cea was named after the church of Loadicea. Why these names? My guess is that it fits the end times theme of the book. In Red Rain, Christianity is outlawed and the Bible banned. The remaining Christians, like the seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, are under persecution. (though in Red Rain, this persecution isn't all that serious--you won't find Foxes' Book of Martyrs going on in here)
On the whole, the story pace was good except for the middle where Philli wanders the hallways for awhile. As far as worldbuilding goes, I felt like there was a decent amount of detail but could have included much more. With a novella length, there certainly was room to add that to provide that depth for greater immersion.
While the Christian messages are wide open, the book doesn't feel overly preachy. At least not compared to many other Christian novels I've read.
Probably the most interesting aspect is the thing that the book is named after. Without giving out spoilers, let's just say it leaves me curious about the sequel, because there's a dangling threat seems to be staved off at the end, but my fiction senses tell me it will make a return. :)
This is a solid read and well worth your time.
July 17, 2016
I love Red Rain! It has a Christian sci-fi plot, and I rather thought it was well-done -- and exciting.
In this futuristic setting, the government is taking away Christians' rights. Our heroine Philadelphia has been moved to a regulated school, and then is offered the chance to live in another family's home -- if she gives up her religion. She fights these advances at her Christian beliefs, with her father by her side, even as he himself fights his own similar battles. Then, after a digital virus attacks everyone's devices and wipes out the Bible, authentic scripture is scarce on Earth..... and on Mars too, as Philadelphia soon finds out.
Overall, the plot can be a scary predicament to think about. Christians being sent away to concentration camps? God's Word stricken from our hands? It's unthinkable. But I believe this is something good to think about -- something that sets you to thinking. How far would you go to keep the faith and run the race as true as you can?
Homeschoolers will rejoice to find this book that involves a homeschool girl (until the government cuts out that possibility) who is on a mission to bring back the Bible. Christians too will enjoy how this story makes one feel like standing up for your beliefs and fighting for truth.
A fun and exciting book!
In this futuristic setting, the government is taking away Christians' rights. Our heroine Philadelphia has been moved to a regulated school, and then is offered the chance to live in another family's home -- if she gives up her religion. She fights these advances at her Christian beliefs, with her father by her side, even as he himself fights his own similar battles. Then, after a digital virus attacks everyone's devices and wipes out the Bible, authentic scripture is scarce on Earth..... and on Mars too, as Philadelphia soon finds out.
Overall, the plot can be a scary predicament to think about. Christians being sent away to concentration camps? God's Word stricken from our hands? It's unthinkable. But I believe this is something good to think about -- something that sets you to thinking. How far would you go to keep the faith and run the race as true as you can?
Homeschoolers will rejoice to find this book that involves a homeschool girl (until the government cuts out that possibility) who is on a mission to bring back the Bible. Christians too will enjoy how this story makes one feel like standing up for your beliefs and fighting for truth.
A fun and exciting book!
October 12, 2023
This is largely adapted from my 2012 first-impressions blog post.
Red Rain is a book I eagerly anticipated (despite "bouncing off" the then-freely-available audiobook), and wanted to love, because of the respect and regard I had developed for Mrs. Newhouse (then writing as "Aubrey Hansen") as I got to know her through the Holy Worlds forum. When I got my hands on it in the summer of 2012, I was surprised to find that it was a dystopia (a subgenre I generally do not like), and partly because of that I found my initial hopes were disappointed. But I still couldn't put it down until I finished it, and found it far more to my taste than most dystopias---and, more than that, I thought it was a very good "first novel", hinting at the possibility of future literary greatness. Ten years on, while I have not felt more than the slightest inclination to reread it, I stand by that estimation, which in my opinion the one full-length novel and two shorter works I have read reinforce.
In my review at the time, I praised Mrs. Newhouse for the compelling narrative voice of Red Rain, which even in the ebook "free preview" I found so gripping that I felt "I must read the rest of this!", and once I had the paperback in my hands I could scarcely put it down. Unlike some stories this wasn't one to make me inclined to stay up all night reading it (Pride and Prejudice, Gaudy Night, Auralia's Colors, or most anything by Lois McMaster Bujold), nor was it (like a lot of richly-detailed fantasy, such as The Curse of Chalion, Thirteenth Child, or Imager) one I felt I needed to read again soon---but unlike Life of Pi (which I read around the same time, until I reached the point of the Eight Deadly Words) this wasn't just an inclination to keep turning pages (only) so long as I had the book in my hand, but rather the insatiable hunger to "find out what happens next," regardless of all the rough edges I found along the way. And in her subsequent work Mrs. Newhouse has proved this is not a fluke: Peter's Angel, Project 74, and Prisoner 120518 all had very different narrative tones, but they all had this same quality that irresistibly kept me turning pages until I reached the end.
In the case of Red Rain, the tone of the narrative voice is eerie and sparse, fitting the story's primary setting (a nearly-uninhabited research station on Mars) and suspenseful plot perfectly. This has the unfortunate side effects, however, that the "narrative bones" of the story are plainly visible to any reader with any training at all in screenwriting, fiction writing, or literary analysis, and that most every step of Philli's journey through the story not only is but obviously seems unavoidably forced. Red Rain would (in my opinion) have worked very well in serial publication (published over the course of several months in a magazine), where abrupt transitions between "acts" are a good fit for the medium, but for non-serial publication, as with every other "rough edge" or "flaw" I identified in Red Rain I suspect even the least invasive possible mitigation would do more harm to the story than good: as I said, the sparse tone, the narrative minimalism, and even the "linearity" of forced choices (to borrow a term from video-game criticism) fit the setting and the plot perfectly.
Part of what gave me the feeling that Mrs. Newhouse has the potential to become not only a very good but a great author is the lingering sense of "weight" I was left with after I closed the book for the final time, beyond that of the book's actual events and visible themes. I felt similar "palpable literary merit" in Peter's Angel (despite its flaws) and, most recently, "Prisoner 150218". Unfortunately, in Red Rain, the opening scenes lay out the setting and background in terms that the "epic" fantasy and science fiction popular in the last several decades has trained readers to see as foreshadowing of the likely Main Plot, so when the story's actual Main Problem is neatly resolved at the end, we feel vaguely dissatisfied. The more modest scope is my opinion a selling point of this story (this isn't Yet Another Save-The-World Plot), and this unsettling feeling is a large part of why fans demanded a sequel, but if you're at all genre-savvy "check your assumptions at the door."
In 2012, I felt that the dystopian setting was unrealistic, that a totalitarian state was highly unlikely to gain control of the world without more resistance from Bible-believing Christians than some "civil disobedience" amid general compliance with persecution, and with the only Bibles available being remotely-deletable electronic files. After all, I said, the strain of Christianity most influential in the founding of the United States held firmly (and fought the War of Independence on the basis) that even unbelieving rulers are required to obey God's law, and that "resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Events of the past few years have forced me to eat my words on this point; Mrs. Newhouse was more prescient than she could have possibly known.
To sum up: Red Rain is a very good story in a genre I don't much care for, that didn't quite live up to my very high hopes but I still couldn't put down, and that still suggests that (if there is any justice in the literary world) Mrs. Newhouse has a very bright future ahead of her. I recommend Red Rain to all interested readers (and now that it's been reissued I plan to give copies away to young friends I think may enjoy it), and I am eagerly anticipating the sequel and other future books from Mrs. Newhouse.
(Edited October 2023 to add: There is now a professionally-produced audiobook edition; as with the amateur one I tried in 2012, I find this voice makes the book unlistenable for me, but I know all too well that it's a rare audiobook where that doesn't happen. If you're one of the millions who do regularly enjoy audiobooks, I encourage you to try this one. I think highly enough of Red Rain that I contributed to the Kickstarter campaign that funded production of this audiobook.)
Red Rain is a book I eagerly anticipated (despite "bouncing off" the then-freely-available audiobook), and wanted to love, because of the respect and regard I had developed for Mrs. Newhouse (then writing as "Aubrey Hansen") as I got to know her through the Holy Worlds forum. When I got my hands on it in the summer of 2012, I was surprised to find that it was a dystopia (a subgenre I generally do not like), and partly because of that I found my initial hopes were disappointed. But I still couldn't put it down until I finished it, and found it far more to my taste than most dystopias---and, more than that, I thought it was a very good "first novel", hinting at the possibility of future literary greatness. Ten years on, while I have not felt more than the slightest inclination to reread it, I stand by that estimation, which in my opinion the one full-length novel and two shorter works I have read reinforce.
In my review at the time, I praised Mrs. Newhouse for the compelling narrative voice of Red Rain, which even in the ebook "free preview" I found so gripping that I felt "I must read the rest of this!", and once I had the paperback in my hands I could scarcely put it down. Unlike some stories this wasn't one to make me inclined to stay up all night reading it (Pride and Prejudice, Gaudy Night, Auralia's Colors, or most anything by Lois McMaster Bujold), nor was it (like a lot of richly-detailed fantasy, such as The Curse of Chalion, Thirteenth Child, or Imager) one I felt I needed to read again soon---but unlike Life of Pi (which I read around the same time, until I reached the point of the Eight Deadly Words) this wasn't just an inclination to keep turning pages (only) so long as I had the book in my hand, but rather the insatiable hunger to "find out what happens next," regardless of all the rough edges I found along the way. And in her subsequent work Mrs. Newhouse has proved this is not a fluke: Peter's Angel, Project 74, and Prisoner 120518 all had very different narrative tones, but they all had this same quality that irresistibly kept me turning pages until I reached the end.
In the case of Red Rain, the tone of the narrative voice is eerie and sparse, fitting the story's primary setting (a nearly-uninhabited research station on Mars) and suspenseful plot perfectly. This has the unfortunate side effects, however, that the "narrative bones" of the story are plainly visible to any reader with any training at all in screenwriting, fiction writing, or literary analysis, and that most every step of Philli's journey through the story not only is but obviously seems unavoidably forced. Red Rain would (in my opinion) have worked very well in serial publication (published over the course of several months in a magazine), where abrupt transitions between "acts" are a good fit for the medium, but for non-serial publication, as with every other "rough edge" or "flaw" I identified in Red Rain I suspect even the least invasive possible mitigation would do more harm to the story than good: as I said, the sparse tone, the narrative minimalism, and even the "linearity" of forced choices (to borrow a term from video-game criticism) fit the setting and the plot perfectly.
Part of what gave me the feeling that Mrs. Newhouse has the potential to become not only a very good but a great author is the lingering sense of "weight" I was left with after I closed the book for the final time, beyond that of the book's actual events and visible themes. I felt similar "palpable literary merit" in Peter's Angel (despite its flaws) and, most recently, "Prisoner 150218". Unfortunately, in Red Rain, the opening scenes lay out the setting and background in terms that the "epic" fantasy and science fiction popular in the last several decades has trained readers to see as foreshadowing of the likely Main Plot, so when the story's actual Main Problem is neatly resolved at the end, we feel vaguely dissatisfied. The more modest scope is my opinion a selling point of this story (this isn't Yet Another Save-The-World Plot), and this unsettling feeling is a large part of why fans demanded a sequel, but if you're at all genre-savvy "check your assumptions at the door."
In 2012, I felt that the dystopian setting was unrealistic, that a totalitarian state was highly unlikely to gain control of the world without more resistance from Bible-believing Christians than some "civil disobedience" amid general compliance with persecution, and with the only Bibles available being remotely-deletable electronic files. After all, I said, the strain of Christianity most influential in the founding of the United States held firmly (and fought the War of Independence on the basis) that even unbelieving rulers are required to obey God's law, and that "resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Events of the past few years have forced me to eat my words on this point; Mrs. Newhouse was more prescient than she could have possibly known.
To sum up: Red Rain is a very good story in a genre I don't much care for, that didn't quite live up to my very high hopes but I still couldn't put down, and that still suggests that (if there is any justice in the literary world) Mrs. Newhouse has a very bright future ahead of her. I recommend Red Rain to all interested readers (and now that it's been reissued I plan to give copies away to young friends I think may enjoy it), and I am eagerly anticipating the sequel and other future books from Mrs. Newhouse.
(Edited October 2023 to add: There is now a professionally-produced audiobook edition; as with the amateur one I tried in 2012, I find this voice makes the book unlistenable for me, but I know all too well that it's a rare audiobook where that doesn't happen. If you're one of the millions who do regularly enjoy audiobooks, I encourage you to try this one. I think highly enough of Red Rain that I contributed to the Kickstarter campaign that funded production of this audiobook.)
April 29, 2025
An engaging, fast paced story that follows the life of 16 year old Philadelphia as she transitions from a detention camp for unassimilated people on earth to Mars to work on a secret scientific project with her dad. Red Rain explores some heavy issues such as freedom of religion and the complexity of moral choices surrounding work, but manages to do so in an easily digestible way. Philadelphia is a compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed the creepy scientist villain!
October 7, 2022
Exciting and tender when it needs to be.
This story hooked me from the first line! It’s well-written with an engaging premise that makes me want to know more. The dystopian atmosphere feels like something that really could happen in the not-so-distant future. It’s a Christian story, and the religious aspects were well-placed without taking any excitement away from the plot. Very well done and exciting, with good character development and emotion. I can’t wait to read the next one.
This story hooked me from the first line! It’s well-written with an engaging premise that makes me want to know more. The dystopian atmosphere feels like something that really could happen in the not-so-distant future. It’s a Christian story, and the religious aspects were well-placed without taking any excitement away from the plot. Very well done and exciting, with good character development and emotion. I can’t wait to read the next one.
April 6, 2023
First Class Christian Sci-Fi
This book read at a good pace. Philadelphia, the main character, was well written, unfortunately I would have been happy to know Ceo, Nic, Philip's brother and the father better.
I am hooked and will buy the next book.
This book read at a good pace. Philadelphia, the main character, was well written, unfortunately I would have been happy to know Ceo, Nic, Philip's brother and the father better.
I am hooked and will buy the next book.
August 14, 2013
My sisters and I listened to Red Rain together, and enjoyed it from beginning to end. Christian science fiction is really hard to find, and Red Rain is exactly that. Christianity, and persecution for it, is central to the plot, and there is space travel and a colony on Mars as well. Despite most of the story happening on Mars, the settings are fairly simple, which allows the reader (or listener) to focus on the story itself. The story is well told, and very intriguing. Philadelphia is a great protagonist, and I really like her. I grew attached to all the good characters, but Philadelphia most of all. Something I though was really cool was how some of the characters' names came from the cities mentioned in Revelation, the ones Revelation was originally sent to. It was fun to find the characters whose names came from the Bible: Philadelphia, Ephesus, Dr. Smyrna, Mr. Sardis and Cea (from Laodicea). I do wish there was more to the story, but I saw something about Aubrey working on a sequel, so perhaps there will be. I can't recommend this book enough. But don't take my word for it. Read it for yourself. You won't regret it.
August 28, 2013
Summary
The pressure on Philadelphia, her father, and the other Christian's in their tiny compound is growing. In the government school for Christians, the children are offered an opportunity to be adopted into "normal" families. Philadelphia refuses. She is shocked when she returns home and told by her father she should have accepted. He's received word that his services are needed on Mars. The summons is not optional, and Philadelphia is not allowed to accompany him. Mars. The same place her brother went and never returned.
Review
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but it had me hooked from the very beginning. Sci-fi isn't usually my thing, but stories of persecuted Christians always intrigue and challenge me. So, persecuted Christians on Mars? Why not? When Christians talk about reclaiming the sci-fi genre from the largely amoral path it has taken, this is the type of book their talking about. Who knows. If more Christians pop up on Mars, I might become a regular reader of sci-fi. ;)
The pressure on Philadelphia, her father, and the other Christian's in their tiny compound is growing. In the government school for Christians, the children are offered an opportunity to be adopted into "normal" families. Philadelphia refuses. She is shocked when she returns home and told by her father she should have accepted. He's received word that his services are needed on Mars. The summons is not optional, and Philadelphia is not allowed to accompany him. Mars. The same place her brother went and never returned.
Review
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but it had me hooked from the very beginning. Sci-fi isn't usually my thing, but stories of persecuted Christians always intrigue and challenge me. So, persecuted Christians on Mars? Why not? When Christians talk about reclaiming the sci-fi genre from the largely amoral path it has taken, this is the type of book their talking about. Who knows. If more Christians pop up on Mars, I might become a regular reader of sci-fi. ;)
December 13, 2022
I loved the premise of this story (a dystopian future where people are persecuted for their faith? a settlement on Mars? a mystery that the MC has to unravel? Sign me up). Overall the pace kept me turning pages to try to find the secret. Although I was able to guess it, I was still very invested in the MC discovering the truth. The themes were interesting and I appreciated that the ending was different than what you'd typically expect from a dystopian. Some of the events did raise questions I would have wanted clarified within the story. But overall, this was an intriguing series opener and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
May 2, 2018
This was so good, I mean wow! I haven't read a good Christian dystopian in a while. While always having access to a Bible, I haven't really comprehended what kind of panic it would be not to be able to just get up and grab one. What a scary thought! Though based from the book of Revelation in the Bible, it didn't seem like those many "end of the world according to Revelation" Christian vibes. Though I would have enjoyed this as a longer book, it did seem to tie off most of the loose ends. Can't wait to read the next one!
January 27, 2014
Struggled to get through this and just could not make myself finish. Made it to about 70%. Littered with grammar errors and coupled with a plot that just did not make any sense, I grew weary of the underlying preachy Christian storyline. The heroine was portrayed as spineless and selfish, making it difficult to like her. Overall, this was just not my cup of tea. Do not recommend this at all.
December 17, 2025
"Red Rain" by Aubrey Hansen is a gripping novella set in 2075, painting a dystopian future where Earth is governed by a one-world regime demanding complete assimilation. The story revolves around Philadelphia Smyrna, a resilient sixteen-year-old who, along with her family, faces persecution for refusing to deny her national, racial, and religious identities. Hansen masterfully crafts a world where individuality is suppressed, and the cost of freedom is steep.
Philadelphia, the protagonist, is a compelling character whose strength lies in her unwavering faith and loyalty to her family. Her flaw, perhaps, is her naivety, stemming from a sheltered life within the religious containment camp. Her father, a quiet but steadfast figure, hopes for a better life on a remote Martian base, only for them to be confronted with the mystery surrounding her brother's death. The relationship between Philadelphia and her father is one of mutual respect and dependence, driving their quest for truth and safety. As Philadelphia investigates her brother's death, she uncovers a sinister plot involving a chemical superweapon, thrusting her into a moral dilemma that propels the narrative forward. The plot twist of discovering the superweapon is a significant turning point, raising the stakes and forcing Philadelphia to confront the corrupt system.
The tone of "Red Rain" is dark and suspenseful, reflecting the oppressive atmosphere of the dystopian world. Hansen explores themes of religious persecution, the importance of cultural identity, and the struggle against totalitarianism. The theme of faith is particularly prominent, as Philadelphia's religious beliefs provide her with strength and hope in the face of adversity. Another significant theme is the value of resistance against oppression, as Philadelphia's refusal to assimilate becomes a symbol of defiance.
In closing, "Red Rain" is a thought-provoking novella that combines elements of science fiction and Christian themes to create a compelling narrative about resistance, faith, and the importance of identity. For readers who enjoyed "Red Rain," I recommend Veronica Roth's "Divergent" series for its similar themes of rebellion against a controlling society, and Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" for its dystopian setting and strong female protagonist.
Philadelphia, the protagonist, is a compelling character whose strength lies in her unwavering faith and loyalty to her family. Her flaw, perhaps, is her naivety, stemming from a sheltered life within the religious containment camp. Her father, a quiet but steadfast figure, hopes for a better life on a remote Martian base, only for them to be confronted with the mystery surrounding her brother's death. The relationship between Philadelphia and her father is one of mutual respect and dependence, driving their quest for truth and safety. As Philadelphia investigates her brother's death, she uncovers a sinister plot involving a chemical superweapon, thrusting her into a moral dilemma that propels the narrative forward. The plot twist of discovering the superweapon is a significant turning point, raising the stakes and forcing Philadelphia to confront the corrupt system.
The tone of "Red Rain" is dark and suspenseful, reflecting the oppressive atmosphere of the dystopian world. Hansen explores themes of religious persecution, the importance of cultural identity, and the struggle against totalitarianism. The theme of faith is particularly prominent, as Philadelphia's religious beliefs provide her with strength and hope in the face of adversity. Another significant theme is the value of resistance against oppression, as Philadelphia's refusal to assimilate becomes a symbol of defiance.
In closing, "Red Rain" is a thought-provoking novella that combines elements of science fiction and Christian themes to create a compelling narrative about resistance, faith, and the importance of identity. For readers who enjoyed "Red Rain," I recommend Veronica Roth's "Divergent" series for its similar themes of rebellion against a controlling society, and Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" for its dystopian setting and strong female protagonist.
September 16, 2024
I had the good fortune of meeting the author at a local book fair and obtaining the first two books in the series. She has a contagious enthusiasm for her series that made it easy to move this up my TBR.
The first book sets the pace for the reader, placing them in a dystopian future where you either comply, become a slave of sorts or are killed. Complying means renouncing your religion and various identities. It’s a future devoid of many freedoms and one that, sadly, the real world is on the path too.
Characters throughout the book are relatable. I don’t want to give too much away, but the main character, Philadelphia, is allowed to go with her father to Mars, who is transferred to work on a project. When she arrives, she’s good at exploring, giving the reader a sense of the facility she now calls home and the oddities and dangers of the series’ world as a whole.
It’s an easy read and one that I would recommend for any that enjoy sci-fi, adventure, dystopia and mystery.
The first book sets the pace for the reader, placing them in a dystopian future where you either comply, become a slave of sorts or are killed. Complying means renouncing your religion and various identities. It’s a future devoid of many freedoms and one that, sadly, the real world is on the path too.
Characters throughout the book are relatable. I don’t want to give too much away, but the main character, Philadelphia, is allowed to go with her father to Mars, who is transferred to work on a project. When she arrives, she’s good at exploring, giving the reader a sense of the facility she now calls home and the oddities and dangers of the series’ world as a whole.
It’s an easy read and one that I would recommend for any that enjoy sci-fi, adventure, dystopia and mystery.
November 7, 2025
I am a christian and like sci fi and read plenty of YA fiction. Combined... This was better than i thought it would be. Very weird seeing the religion side being so persecuted again when our current world is heading toward the Handmaid's Tale situation. I find the hardest thing to believe is how print books have 100% gone been destroyed. Right now you can find a nearly everywhere, large print, mini pocket sized, and in any language. How on earth did all get destroyed so we are left with crappy kindle cloud versions?
Will read some more of this series to see how it all plays out.
Will read some more of this series to see how it all plays out.
November 4, 2025
Yuck. Not for me; not also not great. The description I read talked about all sorts of identity denials like no races and no national identities but it was all about lack of freedom of religion and specifically no Christianity. There was way too much focus on how these Christians were no longer allowed to read the Bible and I just found it annoying. It’s too bad because it almost felt like an interesting idea mixed in with the tedious
November 20, 2021
At first I didn't think I would enjoy this Christian vs government futuristic story, but by the end I found the development interesting. I was very disappointed with the ending, and I was left debating whether it was happy or not. Overall, the story kept my interest from beginning to end and I think that it is a good option for the casual sci-fi fan.
April 14, 2023
Too Preachy; I prefer subtlety.
I enjoy the occasional novel about loss of religious Liberty. My preference is for characters, who rule the day through actions. This novel has some of that, but the importance of religious freedom need not be forefront to be understood.
The why is as important as the what.
I enjoy the occasional novel about loss of religious Liberty. My preference is for characters, who rule the day through actions. This novel has some of that, but the importance of religious freedom need not be forefront to be understood.
The why is as important as the what.
January 26, 2024
Fun little introduction to the series
This was a fun little introduction to a new series. I enjoyed the premise and the main character was fun to root for. It was a bit short, and the ramp-up in tension went a bit too quick for my liking (as well as the final face-off felt over before it had even started), but overall an enjoyable read.
This was a fun little introduction to a new series. I enjoyed the premise and the main character was fun to root for. It was a bit short, and the ramp-up in tension went a bit too quick for my liking (as well as the final face-off felt over before it had even started), but overall an enjoyable read.
December 19, 2023
Relatable characters draw you into a thought-provoking (and slightly terrifying) version of the future that is both imaginative and eerily plausible. From the cover art to the quick pacing, this is a perfect book for the reluctant readers in your life.
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